Vehicle entertainment center assembly with hanger

ABSTRACT

An accessory assembly operatively connected to vehicle seat includes a housing having a front surface and an opposing rear surface. A screen is disposed on the rear surface of the housing. A hanger cooperates with and is removably connected to the housing. The hanger includes a central portion having a cavity and first and second shoulder portions extending from opposing ends of the central portion. A support is mounted to the rear surface of the housing and disposed below the screen configured to receive a portable electronic device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/379,586, entitled “VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT CENTERASSEMBLY WITH HANGER,” filed on Aug. 25, 2016, the content of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle entertainment centerassembly.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices, such as smart phones, tablets, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), global position systems (GPS), and the like arewidely used by passengers of vehicles. Some of these electronic devicesprovide the benefit of portability, allowing the passengers to bring thedevice with them, for use in the vehicle, while also allowing thepassengers to take the device with them as they exit the vehicle. Otherelectronic devices can be integrated into the vehicle.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a vehicle entertainment center accessoryassembly attachable to a seat of a vehicle, such as to a rear-facingside of a vehicle seat. The accessory assembly includes a housing havinga front surface and an opposing rear surface. A screen is disposed onthe rear surface of the housing. A hanger cooperates with the housingand includes a central portion and first and second shoulder portionsextending from opposing ends of the central portion. A support ismounted to the rear surface of the housing and disposed below the screenconfigured to receive a portable electronic device.

The support may include a body having a first end including a pluralityof openings configured to align with a plurality of openings in a lowerextremity of the housing and a second end including a receiving memberconfigured to receive the portable electronic device. An arm extendsfrom the second end of the body and is configured to receive and supporta portion of the portable electronic device and cooperate with thesecond end of the body to define an opening for the portion of theportable electronic device.

The opening in the receiving member may face rearward relative to thehousing. The receiving member may include a hook having a C-shapedopening configured to receive the portion of the portable electronicdevice. Alternatively, the receiving member may include a hook having aU-shaped opening configured to receive the portion of the portableelectronic device such as a headphone listening device.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, an accessory module includes ahousing having a front surface and an opposing rear surface and a screendisposed on the rear surface of the housing. A hanger cooperates withthe housing and includes a central portion and first and second shoulderportions extending from opposing ends of the central portion. A supportis mounted to the rear surface of the housing and disposed below thescreen configured to receive a portable electronic device. The supportfurther includes a body having a first end including a plurality ofopenings configured to align with a plurality of openings in a lowerextremity of the housing and a second end including a receiving memberconfigured to receive the portable electronic device.

An arm extends from the second end of the body and is configured toreceive and support a portion of the portable electronic device andcooperate with the second end of the body to define an opening for theportion of the portable electronic device. The opening in the receivingmember may face rearward relative to the housing. The receiving membermay include a hook having a C-shaped opening configured to receive theportion of the portable electronic device. Alternatively, the receivingmember may include a hook having a U-shaped opening configured toreceive the portion of the portable electronic device.

In yet another embodiment of the disclosure, a vehicle seat includes aseat bottom and a seat back having a lower end adjustably connected toand positionable relative to the seat bottom and an upper end. Aheadrest is operatively connected to the upper end of the seat back. Anaccessory assembly is disposed proximate and operatively connected tothe seat back.

The accessory assembly includes a housing having a front surface and anopposing rear surface. A screen is disposed on the rear surface of thehousing. A hanger cooperates with the housing and includes a centralportion and first and second shoulder portions extending from opposingends of the central portion. A support is mounted to the rear surface ofthe housing and disposed below the screen configured to receive aportable electronic device.

The support may include a body having a first end including a pluralityof openings configured to align with a plurality of openings in a lowerextremity of the housing and a second end including a receiving memberconfigured to receive the portable electronic device. An arm extendsfrom the second end of the body and is configured to receive and supporta portion of the portable electronic device and cooperate with thesecond end of the body to define an opening for the portion of theportable electronic device.

The opening in the receiving member may face rearward relative to thehousing. The receiving member may include a hook having a C-shapedopening configured to receive the portion of the portable electronicdevice. Alternatively, the receiving member may include a hook having aU-shaped opening configured to receive the portion of the portableelectronic device.

The detailed description and the drawings or Figures are supportive anddescriptive of the disclosure, but the claim scope of the disclosure isdefined solely by the claims. While some of the best modes and otherembodiments for carrying out the claims have been described in detail,various alternative designs and embodiments exist for practicing thedisclosure defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration in front view of an embodiment of avehicle entertainment center accessory assembly shown supporting a cellphone and a headphone set;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration in side view of the vehicleentertainment center accessory assembly of FIG. 1 shown supporting thecell phone and the headphone set;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration in partially exploded and perspectiveview of the vehicle entertainment center accessory assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration in fragmentary perspective view of avehicle including two of the vehicle entertainment center accessoryassemblies of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration in fragmentary perspective rear viewof the vehicle entertainment center accessory assembly of FIG. 1 shownsupporting the cell phone;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration in fragmentary perspective front viewof the vehicle entertainment center accessory assembly of FIG. 1 shownsupporting the cell phone;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration in cross-sectional view of a hangerand cell phone insert of the vehicle entertainment center accessoryassembly of FIG. 1 taken at lines 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration in fragmentary perspective front viewof the hanger and cell phone insert of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration in exploded perspective view of thehanger and insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration in fragmentary side view of thevehicle entertainment center accessory assembly of FIG. 1 shownsupporting the headphone set; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic fragmentary illustration in front view of thevehicle entertainment center accessory assembly of FIG. 1 shownsupporting the headphone set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that alldirectional references (e.g., above, below, upward, up, downward, down,top, bottom, left, right, vertical, horizontal, etc.) are useddescriptively for the figures to aid the reader's understanding, and donot represent limitations (for example, to the position, orientation, oruse, etc.) on the scope of the disclosure, as defined by the appendedclaims.

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a frontview of an embodiment of a vehicle entertainment center accessoryassembly (VECAA) 10 shown supporting an object 12 such as a cell phoneor other portable electronic device and a headphone set 14. As usedherein “front” and “rear” as used to describe the VECAA 10 areconsidered relative to the position of the VECAA 10 when mounted in thevehicle 30 of FIG. 4.

The VECAA 10 includes an electronic display device 16 that includes ahousing 17 that supports a screen 18 (best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). TheVECAA also includes a hanger 20 with an insert 22, and a headphonesupport 24. The housing 17 of the electronic display device 16 includesa front surface 36 and an opposing rear surface that receives andsupports the screen 18 thereon. As will be described in greater detailbelow, the front and rear surfaces of the housing 17 cooperate to defineand form an upper surface therebetween.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the VECAA 10 is configured to be mounted to aseat assembly 26 in a passenger compartment 28 of a vehicle 30 so thatthe display screen 18 generally faces rearward and is exposed to view toa vehicle passenger seated in a seat rearward of the seat assembly 26.The seat assembly 26 may include a seat bottom adjustably connected to alower portion of the passenger compartment 28 and a seat back 26B havinga lower end adjustably connected to and positionable relative to theseat bottom. FIG. 4 shows two VECAAs 10, one mounted to each of adriver's seat assembly 26 and a front passenger seat assembly 26. Theseat assemblies 26 each include a respective headrest 26A that isoperatively connected an upper end of the seat back 26B.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, the VECAA 10 includes a mountingstructure 32 extending from the front surface 36 of the housing 17secured to mounting features 34 on the front side or front surface 36 ofthe electronic display device 16. The mounting structure 32 includesheadrest post openings 38 through which the headrest posts of theheadrest 26A may extend so that the mounting structure 32 is mounted tothe seat back 26B of the seat assembly 26. Other fastener openings 40may receive fasteners used to mount the VECAA 10 to the seat assembly26. Alternatively, the mounting features 34 on the housing 17 of theelectronic display device 16 may allow the electronic display device 16to be easily removable from the mounting structure 32, for example, suchas to remove the electronic display device 16 from the vehicle 30 ifdesired, while the mounting structure 32 remains mounted to the seatassembly 26.

With reference to FIG. 3, the hanger 20 mounts to the front side 36 ofthe electronic display device 16. More specifically, the hanger 20includes a plurality of fastener openings 42 that align withcorresponding fastener openings 44 extending into the housing 17 of theelectronic display device 16. Fasteners (not shown) extend through thealigned openings 42, 44 to mount the hanger 20 to the front side 36. Acover 45 may be provided to cover the openings 42. The cover 45 may clipor otherwise secure to the hanger 20.

When mounted as described, the hanger includes a central portion 50 andat least one shoulder portion 46 extending from the central portion 50.As shown in the Figures, the at least one shoulder portion 46 includesfirst and second shoulders 46 of the hanger 20 that extend from opposingends of the central portion 50 and behind and at least partially aboveand laterally outward of the electronic display device 16, as best shownin FIG. 1. The hanger 20 is thus offset from the screen 18 and does notblock any portion of the screen 18 to provide a pleasurable viewingexperience. This also allows an article of clothing (not shown) to behung on the shoulders 46 of the hanger 20 without interfering with theelectronic display device 16. By way of non-limiting example, theclothing may be a coat, a shirt, a suit jacket, etc., that can be hungon the hanger 20.

The hanger 20 is incorporated and integrated in the VECAA 10 by mountingand securing the hanger to the housing 17 of the display device 16, asdescribed herein, provides space savings and an aesthetic pleasingappearance inside the passenger compartment 28 of the vehicle 30 andeliminates the need to have a separate hanger in another location in thevehicle. The hanger 20 is disposed between the electronic display device16 and the seat assembly 26 when mounted to the seat assembly 16 asshown in FIG. 4, which may allow the clothing to fit generally betweenthe electronic display device 16 and the seat assembly 26 in someinstances so that the screen 18 is not covered by the clothing.Alternatively, clothing hanging on the hanger 20 may partially orcompletely cover the screen 18.

With reference to FIGS. 5-8, the hanger 20 has a central portion 50 thatdefines a recessed cavity 52 that opens generally upward when the VECAA10 is installed in the vehicle 30 of FIG. 4. Opposing sidewalls 53extend at fore and aft sides of the cavity 52 between the first andsecond shoulder portions 46 to define the cavity 52. The first andsecond shoulder portions 46 of the hanger 20 further define at least oneslot 54 that extend through the hanger 20 between the shoulders 46 anddisposed proximate the central portion 50. Moreover, the shoulders 46have a plurality of elongated ribs 56 extending along their lengths. Theribs 56 strengthen the shoulders 46 while affording a reduction in massin comparison to shoulders of an entirely solid section of the thicknessof the ribs 56. As shown in FIG. 9, a lower portion of the shoulders 46also include ribs 56.

The VECAA 10 includes an insert 22 that is configured to be receivedwithin and removably connected to the recessed cavity 52 so that itlines the inner surface 55 of the hanger 20 in the cavity 52. As bestshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the insert 22 has a central portion 61 withprotrusions 62 that align with openings 64 in the central portion 50 ofthe hanger 20 and may be inserted into the openings 64 to secure theinsert 22 to the hanger 20. FIG. 8 shows arrows A indicating a directionof insertion of the insert 22.

The insert 22 may be a compliant material, such as rubber. The compliantmaterial allows the protrusions 62 to yield when being inserted into theopenings 64 so that the insert 22 is interference fit to the hanger 20.Additional protrusions 65 of the insert 22, best shown in FIG. 9, alignwith openings 66 in the hanger 20 to secure shoulders 67 of the insert22 to the hanger 20 above the slots 54. The compliant material of theinsert 22 also allows the insert 22 to prevent slip of an object (suchas cell phone 12 in FIG. 1) placed in the cavity 52 and supported on theinsert 22. The insert 22 thus in effect grips the phone 12 to preventmovement of the phone 12 relative to the hanger 20, protecting the phone12 and preventing rattling noise of the phone 12 against the hanger 20.

The insert 22 defines a channel 74 between the central portion 61 andthe shoulders 67. Channel 74 aligns with the slots 54 of the hanger 20when the insert 22 is secured to the hanger 20. The aligning slots 54and channel 74 enable an object such as the phone 12 to extend throughthe aligned slots 54 and channel 74 into a space 76 bounded by thehanger 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Cell phones 12 of various sizes can besupported on the combined hanger 20 and insert 22 in part due to thegreater width afforded by the open slots 54 and channel 74 in comparisonto the width of the cavity 52 alone. Moreover, the space 76 reduces themass of the hanger 20 in comparison to a hanger of solid materialfilling the space 76.

As best shown in FIG. 4, when the cell phone 12 is supported by thehanger 20 and insert 22, a screen 78 of the cell phone 12 is visible toa rear seat occupant simultaneously with the screen 18. Control buttonsand ports disposed along the outer periphery of the cell phone 12 arealso exposed.

FIGS. 3, 10, and 11 best show the headphone support 24. The headphonesupport 24 includes a body having a first end including a plurality ofopenings 80 that align with openings 82 in the housing 17 to receivefasteners by which the headphone support 24 is secured to the housing17. The second end of the body of the headphone support 24 includes ahook or receiving member 84 that is configured to be disposed below alower extremity 86 of the housing 17 shown in FIG. 2.

The receiving member 84 cooperates with the second end of the body ofthe headphone support to form a generally U-shaped or C-shaped opening88 that faces rearward relative to the housing (i.e., toward a rear seatpassenger and opposite the lower extremity of the housing). Thereceiving member 84 has an arm 90 that is disposed generallyhorizontally to support an object placed into the opening 88, such asthe headphone set 14. Because the opening 88 faces rearward, theheadphone set 14 is easily placed on and removed from the receivingmember 84. The receiving member 84 may be a material of suitablestrength to support the headphone set 14, and may provide suitablesurface friction to minimize sliding of the headphone set 14 relative tothe receiving member 84.

In other embodiments, the hanger 20 and the electronic display device 16can include and can attach to one another via fasteners, openings,holes, slots, grooves, clips, tabs, snaps, friction or interference fitfeatures, adhesive, welding, soldering, etc. In certain embodiments, thehanger 20 and the electronic display device 16 can be formed as onepiece.

While the best modes and other embodiments for carrying out thedisclosure have been described in detail, those familiar with the art towhich this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designsand embodiments for practicing the disclosure within the scope of theappended claims. Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the drawings orthe characteristics of various embodiments mentioned in the presentdescription are not necessarily to be understood as embodimentsindependent of each other. Rather, it is possible that each of thecharacteristics described in one of the examples of an embodiment can becombined with one or a plurality of other desired characteristics fromother embodiments, resulting in other embodiments not described in wordsor by reference to the drawings. Accordingly, such other embodimentsfall within the framework of the scope of the appended claims.

1. An accessory assembly configured to be operatively connected to avehicle seat, the accessory assembly comprising: a housing having afront surface and an opposing rear surface; a screen disposed on therear surface of the housing; a hanger cooperating with the housinghaving a central portion and first and second shoulder portionsextending from opposing ends of the central portion; and a supportmounted to the rear surface of the housing and disposed below the screenconfigured to receive a portable electronic device; wherein the supportincludes a body having a first end defining a plurality of openingsconfigured to align with a plurality of openings in a lower extremity ofthe housing and a second end including a receiving member configured toreceive the portable electronic device; and wherein the receiving memberincludes an arm extending from the second end of the body configured toreceive and support a portion of the portable electronic device andcooperating with the second end of the body to define an opening for theportion of the portable electronic device.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)4. The accessory assembly of claim 1 wherein the opening in thereceiving member faces rearward relative to the housing.
 5. Theaccessory assembly of claim 4 wherein the opening in the receivingmember further comprises a hook including a C-shaped opening configuredto receive the portion of the portable electronic device.
 6. Theaccessory assembly of claim 4 wherein the opening in the receivingmember further comprises a hook including a U-shaped opening configuredto receive the portion of the portable electronic device.
 7. Theaccessory assembly of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic devicereceived in the receiving member is a headphone listening device.
 8. Theaccessory assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mounting structureextending from the front surface of the housing to operatively connectthe housing to the vehicle seat.
 9. An accessory assembly comprising: ahousing having a front surface and an opposing rear surface; a screendisposed on the rear surface of the housing; a hanger cooperating withthe housing having a central portion and first and second shoulderportions extending from opposing ends of the central portion; and asupport mounted to the rear surface of the housing and disposed belowthe screen configured to receive a portable electronic device, whereinthe support includes a body having a first end defining a plurality ofopenings configured to align with a plurality of openings in a lowerextremity of the housing and a second end including a receiving memberconfigured to receive the portable electronic device; and wherein thereceiving member includes an arm extending from the second end of thebody configured to receive and support a portion of the portableelectronic device and cooperating with the second end of the body todefine an opening for the portion of the portable electronic device. 10.(canceled)
 11. The accessory assembly of claim 9 wherein the opening inthe receiving member faces rearward relative to the housing.
 12. Theaccessory assembly of claim 11 wherein the opening in the receivingmember further comprises a hook including a C-shaped opening configuredto receive the portion of the portable electronic device.
 13. Theaccessory assembly of claim 11 wherein the receiving member ispositioned proximate to the rear surface of the housing such that theportable electronic device does not obstruct the screen when disposed inthe receiving member.
 14. The accessory assembly of claim 11 wherein theopening in the receiving member further comprises a hook including aU-shaped opening configured to receive the portion of the portableelectronic device.
 15. A vehicle seat comprising: a seat bottom; a seatback having a lower end adjustably connected to and positionablerelative to the seat bottom and an upper end; a headrest operativelyconnected to the upper end of the seat back; and an accessory assemblydisposed proximate and operatively connected to the seat back, theassembly including: a housing having a front surface and an opposingrear surface, a screen disposed on the rear surface of the housing, ahanger cooperating with the housing having a central portion and firstand second shoulder portions extending from opposing ends of the centralportion, and a support mounted to the rear surface of the housing anddisposed below the screen configured to receive a portable electronicdevice; wherein the support includes a body having a first end defininga plurality of openings configured to align with a plurality of openingsin a lower extremity of the housing and a second end including areceiving member configured to receive the portable electronic device;and wherein the receiving member includes an arm extending from thesecond end of the body configured to receive and support a portion ofthe portable electronic device and cooperating with the second end ofthe body to define an opening for the portion of the portable electronicdevice.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. The vehicle seat of claim 15wherein the opening in the receiving member faces rearward relative tothe housing.
 19. The vehicle seat of claim 18 wherein the opening in thereceiving member further comprises a hook including a C-shaped openingconfigured to receive the portion of the portable electronic device. 20.The vehicle seat of claim 18 wherein the opening in the receiving memberfurther comprises a hook including a U-shaped opening configured toreceive the portion of the portable electronic device.